Stranger of Sword City Reviews
Stranger of Sword City does much to stand out from the herd, but it might not be for the better.
Even with the slow grind, I have no reservations saying Stranger of Sword City is a damn fine dungeon crawler. It's challenging, it's beautiful to look at, and it kept me on my toes throughout the adventure as I walked the fine line between playing it smart and playing it dangerously. If this game can make a believer out of me, imagine what die-hard dungeon crawler fans will think of it.
Stranger of Sword City excels at one thing, and really flounders at the others. It’s a rewarding experience if you’re a fan of challenging RPGs and gameplay depth. If you’re a fan of well-written dialogue, engaging music or proper difficulty curves though…well….there are a lot of other video games out there that may suit you better.
Stranger of Sword City is a great first-person dungeon crawler for the Vita. Although marred by some annoyances, it is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.
Stranger of Sword City mixes the old-school gameplay of classic RPGs with modern aesthetics and story. It adds a few new mechanics that differentiates it from other RPGs you’d find on any system, whether home or portable. If you are looking for a challenging RPG that gives you plenty of options, then give Stranger of Sword City a good look.
Stranger in Sword City is a brutal and uncompromising experience that’s well worth overcoming. It features some interesting gameplay ideas along with a terrific art style and an OST to match. If not for its few notable flaws, it could have easily been the best dungeon crawler on the Vita.
Stranger of Sword City looked spectacular and introduced a few engaging new features along with hours of strategic combat, but a shallow storyline and slow progression prevented the game from shining. Most gamers could find something to enjoy with the title, but those who aren’t big genre fans may feel like it’s a long grind towards a lacklustre ending.
Despite its slow start, Stranger in Sword City matures into a compelling dungeon crawling RPG that's defined by its gritty atmosphere. Even though it doesn't bring anything especially new to the genre in terms of gameplay, it's a cohesive and well-crafted handheld experience, topped off with a setting that practically begs to be explored.
Experience has delivered a resoundingly solid dungeon-crawler that will give any seasoned a JRPG fan a run for their money. Beyond a difficult barrier to entry, players will find rewarding innovation, stunning art, and core mechanics that keep drawing you back. And while this game may not be for everyone, gamers able to notice genre-bending nuance will be able to find something to enjoy.
Grab your sword, prepare to enjoy that character creation menu, and get ready to spend as much time in the hospital as in a 3D dungeon labyrinth. It’s time to be a Stranger.
A solid dungeon crawler with fantastic art and music, but a few poorly implemented ideas prevent it from being a truly great experience. The PC port is simple but performs well enough for the genre, and the addition portrait uploads is a fun bonus.
Stranger of Sword City is a competent dungeon crawler with teeth.
Sword City may encounter the ocassional stumble, but the experience is unlike any other for a console starved of its genre, and certainly not one to be overlooked.
Stranger of Sword City is a solid dungeon Japanese role-playing game devoid of any surprises.
Stranger of Sword City takes the fundamentals of the dungeon crawler and coats it with a twist of Japanese.
Stranger of Sword City takes the thirty year old first-person dungeon crawling formula and tweaks it enough to make it feel fresh.
If I made a list of everything that frustrated me in the Japanese role-playing genre, I'd bet Stranger of Sword City would be guilty of almost all of it.
Players who speak highly of games like Etrian Odyssey on the 3DS or those who played a ton of Eye of the Beholder back in the day may fall in love with the crazy monsters and style of Stranger of Sword City.
Overall, I was very pleased with Stranger of Sword City and go back to it when long periods of time (and an insatiable desire to work towards max’ing my party) are available to me. If you have a craving for the type of gridder where you change classes five times, grind for hours, and obsess over gear, then you just found your next purchase.
Overall, Stranger of Sword City is quite a good game for those looking for a nice dungeon-crawling RPG.